The Tragic Tale of Officer William E. Stark: More Than a Ghost Story

The Queen Mary is one of the most famously haunted ships in the world. Guests and staff alike have reported seeing a man in a Cunard officer’s uniform, walking the decks as if still carrying out his duties. Some claim he appears confused, still searching for something. Others say they’ve heard eerie, gasping breaths echoing in the Isolation Ward. The stories are chilling, but who was this man before he became a legend?

When I began writing about the spirits of the Queen Mary, I quickly realized that it’s a topic that has already been thoroughly covered. Yet, while plenty of stories describe the ship’s famous ghosts, what I haven’t seen as much of is deeper information about the people behind the hauntings—who they were in life, beyond their deaths.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on our culture’s fascination with ghost stories. I think it’s easy to forget that when we talk about hauntings and tragic deaths, we’re often speaking about real people. People who had families, dreams, and lives that extended far beyond the moment that ultimately made them “famous.” Some of those families may even still be alive.

That thought led me to wonder: how would I feel if a loved one of mine became known primarily as a ghost? What if the only mentions of them were in paranormal YouTube videos or ghost tours, focused entirely on how they died?

I don’t think most of us who love ghost stories intend to be disrespectful. But somewhere along the way, there seems to have been a disconnect—a tendency to overlook the lives these people lived in favor of focusing on the spooky or tragic circumstances of their deaths. That’s why I try to humanize the ghost stories and urban legends I share. By digging into the history of these people, I hope to remind readers that these spirits were more than their final moments.

With that in mind, I want to share the story of Senior 2nd Officer William E. Stark, one of the Queen Mary’s most well-known ghosts.

Seafaring Was In His Blood

William Eric Stark was born on September 25, 1918, in Sunderland, England. By the time he was born, his father, William Eric Stark Sr., was already an accomplished mariner. Stark Sr. served as an officer on numerous ships, including the Queen Mary, and remained a sailor until the age of 57.

It’s no surprise, then, that William Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps.

From Apprentice to Decorated Officer

In 1936, at the age of 17, William Jr. began his maritime career as an apprentice on the cargo ship Silverpine. He quickly rose through the ranks, and by 1940, he had become a Junior 3rd Officer on the RMS Antonia.

During World War II, William was decorated with six service medals. While I couldn’t uncover exactly what he did during the war, I do know that he married Margaret Joyce Blake, a nurse, in Port Said, Egypt, in 1941. Given her profession, it’s possible they met while working aboard a ship.

An Officer on the Queen Mary

By November 1947, William was serving as a Senior 3rd Officer on the RMS Queen Mary. Margaret, meanwhile, appears to have led a busy life as a midwife in Hampshire, England, likely enduring long periods apart from her husband due to his time at sea.

At this point in history the Queen Mary was still one of the world’s premier ocean liners, operating as part of Cunard Line’s transatlantic service between Southampton and New York. Thought it had returned to civilian service after WW2, it was no ordinary passenger ship. The Queen Mary’s legacy as both a luxury liner and a wartime troopship made her iconic.

In April 1948, William was promoted to Junior 2nd Officer, and by the following year, he had achieved the rank of Senior 2nd Officer—the position he held during his final voyage aboard the Queen Mary in September 1949.

A Fatal Mistake

On September 18, 1949, the Queen Mary was en route back to Southampton. That evening, Captain Andrew MacKellar asked Officer Stark to prepare drinks in the cabin of the Staff Captain—a round of gin and lime for the captain and three officers who were about to go off duty.

When Stark entered the cabin, he couldn’t find the gin. He asked the Captain’s Steward, Frederick Stokes, to help him search. In the dimly lit room, Stokes eventually located what he thought was a bottle of gin and handed it to Stark, who then mixed the drinks.

At 9:45 p.m., Stark met with Captain MacKellar to report after completing his rounds. During their conversation, Stark made a casual comment: “That was funny gin we had, sir, at dinner-time.”

It was then that Captain MacKellar realized what had happened. Stokes had mistakenly grabbed an old gin bottle that had been repurposed to store carbon tetrachloride—a toxic chemical used for cleaning furniture.

The ship’s doctor was summoned and advised Stark to have his stomach pumped immediately. But Stark, believing it was no big deal, refused. He even went on to join the other officers for a drink—this time, with actual gin and lime.

The Tragic Aftermath

The following day, Stark’s condition began to deteriorate. He was confined to bed and treated with injections, but his health continued to decline.

When the Queen Mary arrived in Southampton on September 20, Stark was rushed to the Royal South Hants Hospital. There, he was able to briefly speak with Margaret, who asked why he hadn’t agreed to have his stomach pumped. His reply: “I did not think anything of it.”

Sadly, Stark’s condition worsened, and on September 23, 1949—just two days before his 31st birthday—he succumbed to carbon tetrachloride poisoning. According to the Queen Mary’s records, he was buried at sea, a common practice for nautical officers.

A Haunting Legacy

Many believe that a person must die in a location in order to haunt it, but that’s not always true. It’s possible that the spirit of Officer Stark remains aboard the Queen Mary because of his deep connection to the ship.

Whether Officer Stark’s spirit is a residual haunting or an active presence, one thing seems certain: he’s still making his rounds aboard the Queen Mary, forever tied to the ship that played such a major role in his life.